Do not lend a political dimension to Rohini’s appointment, says Somashekar

Mysuru: Against a backdrop of a spiralling controversy over the abrupt decision of the state government appointing

Rohini Sindhuri Dasari

as the

Mysuru deputy commissioner

, a member from opposing party on Friday appealed to those protesting former

DC B Sharat

’s

transfer

not to lend a

political dimension

to the issue.

Meanwhile,

Mysuru district in-charge minister ST Somashekar

on Friday said that there was no cause for confusion apropos Rohini’s appointment. “The chief minister has issued an order appointing her as the Mysuru DC and I am duty-bound to comply with the decision,” Somshekar said.

The minister expressed disappointment with an issue being made out of officials’ origins. “It is not proper to discriminate against officials based on which region they are from. Rohini is an efficient bureaucrat who has gained sufficient experience, having worked in various departments. But some are trying to garner political mileage by turning this into a Kannadiga v/s non-Kannadiga issue,” Somashekar rued.

On the other hand, Congress member and MLC Raghu Achar pointed out that, for any official to be appointed to the post of a DC, one ought to meet a set of criteria. “And I believe the government has taken a wise decision in this respect. I believe there are political reasons behind a Mysuru MLA holding a press conference to level allegations against the new DC,” said Achar, a day after senior JD(S) member and former minister SR Mahesh held a press conference levelling allegations of corruption against Rohini.

MCC’s expansion on anvil

Mysuru district in-charge minister ST Somashekar, who participated in the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, said that the government was mulling over a proposal to upgrade the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to a Bruhat Mahanagara Palike along the lines of Bengaluru by incorporating villages under the purview of eight gram panchayats under the urban local body’s ambit.

On the choice of the BJP’s candidate for the Raja Rajeshwari Nagar bypoll, Somashekar said, “Generally, two names are suggested by the local unit, and thus usually includes the candidate who lost the election the first time around. The decision, however, will be taken by the high-power committee.”

‘Aarthika Spandana’

Cooperation minister ST Somashekar on Friday launched ‘Aarthika Spandana’, an initiative the objective of which is to provide financial assistance to farmers, traders and others involved in businesses who suffered losses during the lockdown. Under the new scheme, those in the eight revenue districts across Mysuru who sustained losses will be provided loans. A sum of Rs 8,600 crore has been earmarked for distribution in Mysuru, he said, adding that Rs 39,000 crore was being disbursed in loans by the department across Karnataka.